Handle assembly for electrical devices



v p 1944- J. CHURCHWARD 2,357,457

HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES Filed Aug. '7, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Iacx Churchward.

. ATTOR'NEY Patented Sept. 5, 1944 HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES Jack Churchward, New Haven, Conn, assignor of one-half to Myrlon A. Farnham, and one-half to Martha S. Churchward, both of New Haven,

Conn.

Application August '7, 1942, Serial No. 454,048

Claims.

This invention relates to handle assemblies for use with electrical devices and more particularly to a new and improved handle assembly for electrode holders used with electric arc welding apparatus.

The features and principles of this invention are especially adapted for incorporation in the structure of the type and form of electrode holder shown in my prior patents 1,373,701 and Reissue No. 20,808, as well as being advantageously useful in other forms of electrical devices. Many forms of electrical devices are provided with a handle assembly by which the device may be held while being operated. In such electrical devices, and especially in electrode holders, it is often desirable to provide a handle assembly having a handle member of insulating material which is readily removable from a core member enclosed thereby, which core member is adapted to have an electric cable secured thereto. It is also desirable that such a handle assembly be adapted to be readily attached to and detached from the respective electrical device and that the said electrical device be simultaneously electrically connected and disconnected from the core member, having the cable secured thereto, for instance, to connect the handle assembly to another electrical device.

In instances where the new and improved handle assembly is used with an electrode holder, of the type shown in the above referred to patents, it is possible to disconnect the electrode holding jaws from the handle assembly, both mechanically and electrically, to permit the use of the same in places which would be inconveniently accessible with permanently connected parts. For instance, should it be desirable to use an electrode holder inside of a tank having a remotely disposed manhole, but which does have a conveniently located small opening through which the handle assembly may be passed, the

improved combination of elements of this invention is particularly useful, as the electrode holding assembly can be disconnected from the handle assembly and carried inside the tank through the remotely located manhole and again connected to the handle assembly, which has been passed through the small, conveniently located opening.

In view of the above desiderata, it is con templated as one object of this invention to provide in an electrical device of the portable type a handle assembly which is adapted to be both mechanically and electrically connected to and disconnected from the assembly of operating parts of the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an electrical device such as an electrode holder, a handle assembly comprising a handle of insulating material, separable metallic core members within the handle, means to detachably connect the handle to one of the core members, and means to detachably connect the handle to the other core member and/or to the operative parts of the electrical device, for instance, the electrode holding jaws of an electrode holder.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a handle assembly of the above nature wherein one of the core members is adapted to cooperate with the jaw members to be connectedthereto and to connect them together.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means, to connect the handle assembly to the assembly of operating parts, which will be insulated from the metallic parts of the device at all times.

A still further object of this invention is to provide improved means to insulate the connecting means between the handle and the cable receiving core.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a handle assembly of the above nature a handle member adapted to insulate the cable receiving core member when the handle assembly has been disconnected from the assembled parts of the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved handle assembly for electrical devices, which will be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, readily manipulated, compact, and very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, there have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings several forms in which the features and principles of this invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of an electrical device in the form of an electrode holder embodying the features and principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the handle assembly of the device shown in Figure 1 with one of the enclosed core members partly in section and the other core member unsectioned;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 wherein a one-piece core member is shown unsectioned;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I II I of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a broken sectional view through a handle assembly and showing spring means to increase the spring tension of the socketed core member of the forms shown in Figures 2 and '7; and

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I3--I3 of Figure 12.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the electrical device illustrated, and which is herein shown as being in the form of an electrode holder for use in electrical arc welding, comprises an assembly of operating parts including a pair of superimposed metallic electrode gripping jaws II and I2 which are adapted at one end to be screw-threaded into a member to be joined together and forced into closely engaged relationship thereby. The jaws II and I2 are bowed outwardly away from each other intermediate their ends whereby they will be biased toward each other at their free ends I3 and I4 to grip a welding electrode I5, disposed therebetween:

A yoke member I6, disposed between the bowed portion of the jaws II and I2, is adapted, when rocked by a handle portion IT, to spread the jaws apart at their free ends I3 and I4 to release a used electrode I and permit the insertion of an other. ends I8 and I9 of the bowed jaws and the member into which they are threaded is such that the jaws are constantly spring-biased toward each other as fully described in the Reissue Patent No. 20,808, above referred to. The jaws I I- and I2 are each also provided with a short unthreaded ':vided with a rectangular guard plate 23, of insulating material, which is clamped against the unthr'eade'd portions 2I and 22 by the core member into which the jaws II and I2 are screwthreaded, and has a centrally located cut 24 in one of its edges. V

The handle assembly of this invention broadly comprises a tubular handle of insulating material, preferably fibre, and a metallic core adapted at one end to receive a cable and at the other end to receive thethreaded ends I8 and I9 of the jaws I I and I2. The improved means by which the tubular handle is detachably" secured to the metallic core and/or to the assembly of operating parts of the device, herein constituted bythe jaws II and I2 and the guard plate 23', comprises a spring 75 7-9 inclusive, the spring catch 26 has a forward- 2 is a longitudinal sectional 'view' through another form of handle assembly and The cooperation between the threaded catch designated by the numeral 25 in Figures 1-6 inclusive, by the numeral 26 in Figures 7-9 inclusive, and by the numeral 2! in Figures and 11. The metallic core shown in Figures 1-6 5 inclusive and in Figures 7-9 inclusive is in two parts, 28 and 29, and, 3I and 32, respectively, while in Figures 10 and 11 the core is of one piece 33. One of the core parts, 29 of the form ,shown in Figures 1-6 inclusive, and 32 of the 10 form shown in Figures 7-9 inclusive, is detachably and directly connected to the tubular hanare, while in the form shown in Figures 10 and 11 the spring catch 21 forms the means to detachably connect the tubular handle with the core 33.

Referring particularly to Figures 1-6 inclusive,

the tubular handle, designated by the numeral 34 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending rows of perforations 35 and is adapted to be slipped over the core parts 28 and 29 with its forward end in abutting engagement with the guard plate 23. The spring catch isformed' with a forwardly projecting extension 36 having a catch lip 3'! which extends through the cut 24 5" in the guard plate 23 and snaps over the forward edge thereof to hold the tubular handle 34 firmly against and to the'plate' 23. The catch 25 is provided with side members 38 and 39' which extend peripherally about the tubular handle 34 from each side of the catch 25. At opposite sides of the handle 34, and in alignment with opposite perforations 35, the side members 38 and 39 are provided with hollow studs M and 42 respectively which are adapted to enter respective 28 is provided with internal threads whereby itmay have" the threaded ends I8 and I9 of the I2 screw-threaded thereinto to "jaws II and 'clamp them together and secure them to the core part, while clamping the guard-plate 23 against the unthreaded jaw portions 2I and 22-. When so connected the jaws II and I2, the guard plate 23, and the rearwardly extending contact,

or core,- part 28 constitute the assembly of operating parts of the electrical device to which the handle assembly is detachably connectedby the ,,spring catch 25. The rear end of the core part 28 is provided witha socket 43- and is slotted longitudinally to provide a plurality of spring contact fingers 44. The corepart 3I of Figures 7-9 inclusive is identical in form and construction to the core part 23 and its use is the same.

The core part 29 has a contact plug 45 at its forward end adapted to enter the socket 43 of the core part 28 to electrically connect them, and this part 29 also has a socket 46 in its rear end to receive the end of a cable 41, which may be *soldered therein, or be clamped therein by a socketed set screw 48. In this form the core part 29 is detachably secured to the tubular handle 34 by screws 49 and 5i which are screw- ,threaded into a ring of insulating material52 55' encircling the plug 45. The ring .52 is detachably secured on the plug 45 by a set screw 53, so that it may be removed therefrom whena cable end is to be soldered in the socket 46. A transverse hole 54 and a longitudinal slot 55 is provided in the core part 29 to receive a wrench 56 for the socketedset screw 48, which wrench is held in place by the overlying tubular handle 34 as fully described in my Patent No. 2,301,107.

Referring now to the formshown in Figures ly extending portion protruding through the cut 24 in the guard plate 23 whereby a catch lip 6|, formed thereon, will snap over the edge of the cut 24 and detachably hold the tubular handle 62 firmly against, and to, the guard plate 23, and detachably secure the handle assembly to the assembly of operating parts of the device, constituted herein by the core part 3|, the guard plate 23, and the jaws H and I2. The rear end 63 of the spring catch 26 is secured to the tubular handle 62 by eyelets 64.

The core part 32 is provided, at its forward end, with a contact plug 65 adapted to enter the socket 43 of the core part 3| to electrically connect these parts. The rear end of the core part 32 is provided with a cable receiving socket 66, a set screw wrench groove 61, and hole 68 to receive a wrench 56, as in the previously described form. A socketed set screw 69 is also provided to clamp a cable end into the socket 66. The means to detachably secure the tubular handle 82 to the core part 32, in this instance, comprises a screw H which passes from one side of the tubular handle 62 diametrically through it and through the plug 65 and which has a nut 12 screwthreaded thereon at the other side of the handle 62. To insulate the screw H from the metallic core part 32, a tube of insulating material 13 extends through the plug 65 about the screw 1|.

Preferably the tube 13 is a tight fit on the screw so as to be removed therewith when the latter is removed, to permit the tubular handle 62 to be slipped from the core part 32.

In both of the above described forms the tubular handles 34 and 62, when removed from the assembled operating parts of the device, form an insulating covering for the plug ends 45 and 65 of the respective core parts 29 and 32, whereby the handle assemblies constituted thereby may be slipped through an opening in a metallic member with the cable 41 connected thereto without danger of the metal thereof contacting the member to cause a short circuit, or sparks, or to be grounded if dropped onto a metallic surface. A handle assembly, as above constituted, is particularly useful in instances Where it is desirable to connect the cable 41 to different forms of electrical devices, and, in instances where it is desirable to temporarily use a different metal in welding without changing the electrode held by the holder in use, it being only necessary to connect the jaws having the proper electrode to this conveniently constructed handle assembly.

The spring catch 21 of the form illustrated in Figures and 11 is secured to the guard plate 8| by screws 82, and has a rearwardly extending portion 83 provided with a downwardly bent lip 84 in the form of a loop. The lip 84 is adapted to snap into one of the perforations 85 of one of a plurality of rows thereof provided in the tubular handle 86 to firmly hold the forward end of this handle 86 against and to' the guard plate 8|. The one-piece core member 33, as in the previ ously described forms, clamps the guard plate against the unthreaded portions 2| and 22 of the jaws H and I2 respectively, when it is screwthreaded onto the threaded portions thereof. The core member 33 is provided at its rear end with a cable receiving socket 81, and a wrench receiving slot 88 and hole 89. When the lip 84 is snapped into one of the perforations 35, the tubular handle 86 is detachably secured to the assembly of operating parts of the device.

In order to insure that the fingers 44 of the core parts 28 and 3| properly contact against the respective contact plug portions 45 and 65 of the core parts 29 and 32 respectively a split spring ring 9| may be provided. The split spring ring 9| is sprung into a peripheral groove 92 formed adjacent the extreme rear end of the core parts 28 and 3| and due to its spring tension will reinforce spring tension of the fingers 44 to maintain them in proper position to engage the respective contact plugs and to insure that efficient electrical contact will be obtained between the respective core parts.

While there have been disclosed in this application several forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is, therefore, desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative, and not restrictive, reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In an electrode holder having opposed jaws spring biased toward each other to grip an electrode therebetween, a first contact member extending rearwardly from said jaws, a guard plate of insulation material between the jaws and said contact member, a second contact member having a cable securing socket at its rear end, a handle member of insulating material adapted to be slipped over the entire said contact members, means to detachably connect said handle member to said second contact member, and spring catch means to detachably connect said handle to said guard plate and to hold said contact members together when the handle member is slipped over the first contact member to engage it with the second contact member.

2. In an electrode holder having opposing jaws spring biased toward each other, a core member secured to the rear end of said jaws and extending rearwardly therefrom, a guard plate of insulating material disposed between said jaws and said core part, a handle of insulating material adapted to be slipped over the entire said core member, and a spring clip carried by said handle member and adapted to engage said guard plate to detachably connect said handle member to said plate.

3. In an electrode holder having opposing jaws spring biased toward each other, a core member secured to the rear end of said jaws and ex-' tending rearwardly therefrom, a guard plate of insulating material disposed between said jaws and said core part, a handle of insulating material adapted to be slipped over the entire said core member, a spring clip carried by said handle member and adapted to engage said guard plate to detachably. connect said handle member to said plate, and another core member within and detachably secured to said handle member and having a cable end receiving socket at its rear end, said core members being adapted to electrically contact when said handle member is slipped over the first mentioned core member.

4. In a handle assembly for an electrical device, a first core member having means on one end to be connected to an electrical device, a second core member having means on one end to be connected to an electrical conductor, a tubular handle member of insulating material secured to said second core member and adapted to receive the entire first core member, a socket in one and a plug on the other of said core members, said socket being adapted to receive said plug when said first core memberis'received in said handle member, a guard plate abutting the device connecting end of said first core member, said plate having a shoulder thereon, and spring catch means carried by the handle member in position to engage the shoulder on the plate to releasably secure the handle member to said first core member and said plug in said socket.

5. In a handle assembly for an electrical device, a first core member having means on one end to be connected to an electrical device, a second core member having meanson one end to be connected to an electrical conductor, a tubular handle member of insulating material secured to said second core member and adapted to receive the entire first core member, a socket in one and a plug on the other of said core members, said socket being adapted to receive said plug when said first core member is received in said handle member, a guard plate abutting- 

